From:                              External Communications [externalcomms@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk]

Sent:                               17 May 2011 12:30

To:                                   HSJ News

Subject:                          Media release: Sussex children’s psychiatric hospital wins ‘best in country’ designation

 

17 May 2011

Sussex children’s psychiatric hospital wins ‘best in country’ designation

A state of the art psychiatric hospital in Haywards Heath which treats young people in Sussex for conditions such as depression, psychosis and eating disorders has been accredited as 'excellent' by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP).

It is the only adolescent unit in the country with this rating.

The accreditation for the unit which is run by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has been made by the RCP under its Quality Network for Inpatient Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (QNIC) and runs for three years until the end of April 2014. 

The unit serves East and West Sussex and Brighton & Hove.

The RCP team described Chalkhill as having a “fantastic” physical environment and a good atmosphere with high team morale.

Feedback from young people and their families who were consulted as part of the accreditation said there was excellent staff support and staff said there were impressive opportunities for training.

Simone Button, Service Director for CAMHS at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said, "This is a tribute to the hard work of everyone at Chalkhill.

“It confirms our status as a leading service nationally and we are particularly pleased that the assessment gives plaudits for how well the hospital integrates with our community services."

Dr Tim Gillett, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist based at Chalkhill, said: “This is a very significant achievement for us. The feedback from the young people, parents, GPs and NHS commissioners was a great boost to a hardworking team committed to getting things right for young people and their families!

“Though we are the only inpatient children’s unit in the country to receive a ranking of excellent, there are always ways to further improve and the accreditation process is helping us map out the next stage in developing our service.”

Ends

For more information please call the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust press office on 01903 843027 or email externalcomms@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides NHS mental health, specialist learning disability and substance misuse services for Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex.


Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust: Chair John Bacon CB Chief Executive Lisa Rodrigues
Headquarters: Swandean, Arundel Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3EP.
Website www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk
Working in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council and
West Sussex County Council